Business Opportunities in Mariposa County

Quality of life and work/life balance have become increasingly
important considerations in American culture. Mariposa County’s
exceptional quality of life is, in fact, a major competitive asset
for both promoting tourism and diversifying the local economy.
Preserving that quality of life with appropriate business
opportunities is, therefore, a fundamental
objective of the EDC’s economic development initiatives.

The Economic Vitality Strategy and Implementation Plan for
Mariposa County, created in November of 2007, identifies three
industry clusters that are wholly compatible with (and indeed stand
to enhance) the County’s cherished quality of life:

The Arts (both visual and performing)

Clean/”Green” Technology

Local/Visitor Serving

For artists and artisans, Mariposa County offers…

Community support on numerous fronts: an arts council, artist organizations, co-ops, galleries, a storytelling festival, a symphony orchestra, a theater and more

Many world-renowned artists who have made their reputations in the area

Abundant inspiration, natural beauty and subject matter

An ample market with millions of tourists visiting annually

The availability of sizeable properties permits larger studios

For technology businesses, Mariposa County offers…

Broadband access in and around the town of Mariposa

A low cost of living that makes it easier to get started profitably

Minimal county regulations with no current need for a business license

Zoning that permits and even encourages Home Enterprises

Neighboring UC Merced and a relatively short 3-hour drive to Silicon Valley

For local/visitor-serving businesses, Mariposa County offers…

An ample market with millions of tourists visiting annually

A strong desire by local residents to “Shop Locally”

An active Chamber of Commerce to help promote new businesses

Vital yet historic shopping districts in most towns

The availability of suitable parcels for special “Destination Businesses”

Businesses in these three industries are welcomed here with open
arms, and the EDC is prepared to assist in the start-up and/or
relocation of such businesses. Businesses in other industries may
be welcomed here, provided that they are compatible with the
County’s quality of life.

To download a copy of the complete Economic Vitality Strategy and Implementation Plan for
Mariposa County click
here.

Most counties in California impose strict requirements on
businesses operated from homes. Mariposa County, by contrast,
has traditionally welcomed home-based businesses to encourage the
entrepreneurial spirit. The recently adopted General Plan
Update perhaps best summarizes this competitive asset:
“Home-based businesses have long been a significant factor in
Mariposa County for their contribution to both the County economy
and character. Therefore, the County has encouraged home
businesses with relatively few restrictions through its
long-standing ‘Home Enterprise’ and ‘Rural Home Industry’
regulations.” In fact, Mariposa County does not require a
business license.

While some home-based businesses may not be suitable or desirable,
advances in technology have now made it possible for knowledge
workers to telework or telecommute from home. Two such
industries are particularly well-suited for diversifying Mariposa
County’s economy: the arts and technology. A studio is
all most artists require to work from home, and an office (with
broadband access) is all most knowledge workers need. The
combination of business-friendly regulations and rural quality of
life make Mariposa County quite attractive for both target
industries.

Mariposa County’s lenient Home Enterprise and Rural Home Industry
regulations enable businesses to start small and plan big.
Indeed, home-based businesses have long been a significant factor in
Mariposa County for their contribution to both the local economy and
its cherished quality of life. County government, therefore,
endeavors to encourage and support home-based businesses with
relatively few restrictions through its long-standing “Home
Enterprise” and “Rural Home Industry” regulations.

Home Enterprise
Home Enterprises are the foundation of economic diversification in
Mariposa County. It is important to the County to ensure that
these types of businesses do not adversely impact on surrounding
neighbors. The factors used to achieve this balance between
the interests of neighbors and the needs and success of the Home
Enterprise include traffic, noise, safety, dust, size of parcel,
character of neighborhood, type of business, and visual
compatibility of structures.

Home Enterprises are based in residential areas and generally
involve a service or sales of products fabricated or produced
onsite. Home Enterprises may operate with more than one
employee. The traffic threshold determines whether or not a
hearing is required prior to the business commencing operations.
Depending on location and surrounding land uses, Home Enterprises on
parcels under five acres in size may not be appropriate for allowing
either employees, customer traffic, or both.

The vast majority of Home Enterprises are intended to remain small
businesses. For business that plan to grow, the purpose of the
Home Enterprise is to allow for “incubation.” Once these
businesses outgrow home usage, they relocate to appropriately zoned
lands.

Rural Home Industry
Rural Home Industries differ from Home Enterprise. The purpose
of the Rural Home Industry is to allow a business to grow on
appropriately zoned and developed property. County Codes
specify these standards, which include a requirement for a minimum
parcel size, access on a maintained road, and a maximum of three
non-family employees.

Mariposa does not require a business license in order for one to
conduct business within the county. Instead, the requirement is the
filing of a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement. To
download a copy of the Fictitious Business Name Form click
here.

After the appropriate form is filed with the County Clerk the
document must be published in an adjudicated newspaper in the County
of Mariposa (The Mariposa Gazette). Arrangements for
publication in the newspaper must be made by the filer.

Development Services
Virtually all proposals to undertake any business activities on
private land in Mariposa County are regulated by the Development
Services departments. These three departments—Building,
Health, and Planning—are each independently managed but integrated
by process. The Development Services departments work
cooperatively to expedite project review and permit issuance as
authorized by the Board of Supervisors.

The Planning Department
Mariposa Planning is responsible for the administration, operations
and management of all planning activities. The Department is
not compartmentalized, but activities fall under Permit Activities,
Policy Planning and Enforcement. Mariposa Planning carries out
police powers enabled by the General Plan and zoning regulations.

The Permit Activities Division processes applications for public and
private parties interested in obtaining various types of permits and
development entitlements from the County. The Division’s
activities range from providing information and disclosure for due
diligence analysis to shepherding Environmental Impact Reports
through the administrative process. These activities involve
decisions from the Staff level through the Planning Commission and
Board of Supervisors.

The Policy Planning Division comprises the research and support arm
of the Department. The Division provides background materials,
reports, and research for Planning Advisory Committees, other
boards, other committees and commissions, the Planning Commission,
and the Board of Supervisors. The Division may prepare
preliminary versions of reports, plans, and documents for public
review and comments.

The Enforcement Division carries out the police powers of Mariposa
Planning in terms of investigating and preparing required actions
related to violations of the General Plan, development permits, and
zoning code provisions.

As the Home of Yosemite, Mariposa County is host to some 3-4
million guests every year. Yosemite represents Mariposa County’s
highest competitive advantage in terms of economic opportunity. As
an economic generator, it provides direct employment for hundreds of
Mariposa County’s residents, and indirectly supports thousands of
other residents who work in other industries (e.g. auto repair,
other services and retail). Tourism in Yosemite is also the
County’s primary revenue generator through the Transient Occupancy
Tax.

The Mariposa County economy can be described as service-producing
with concentrations of employment in the accommodations industry,
governmental services, retail trade, and eating and drinking
establishments. The local economy is heavily weighted to
servicing visitors, which also benefits local residents with choices
not normally found in such a small County (with only 18,000
residents). Few businesses export goods and services outside
the County; those businesses represent a small portion of the
County’s overall economic activity.